Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
I woke up and reached for my locker key that I keep in my bra and it was gone. It was pitch black and I reached around for my bag which was now missing as well. My heart began beating faster and I started to panic searching for my things until and I woke up out of my dream in a sweat.
I turned on the lamp beside my bed and I was in my hotel room, not a hostel. All my belongings lay on the bench by the door. All of this travel and I was beginning to have nightmares. I closed my eyes and fell back asleep until my alarm went off at 8am.
I took my iPad down to breakfast and was on a mission. Today I had to decide what to do with my last day in Chiang Mai. A girl at the elephant camp told me that Angelina Jolie stays at a really expensive hotel in the mountains when she comes to Thailand before her mission trips. I decided to Google that hotel and see if it was worth looking into. Staying outside of the city and in the mountains could be a nice grand finale to my trip to Chiang Mai. After Googling the hotel and looking at the reviews, it looked tranquil but the ratings said it was pretty boring for the most part. I did however like where Angelina's head was at so looked up other hotels in the mountains on Hotels.com. I came across The Veranda Chiang Mai Resort and Spa. The website read if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, The Veranda is a total Zen experience from the moment of arrival. I was sold. I think we all could use a Zen experience. I booked the hotel, checked out of mine and then walked to the corner and flagged down a Tuk Tuk. I asked how much to Hangdong district and he said ฿400, I negotiated ฿300 and hopped in the Tuk Tuk.
As we were driving out of the busy city, I was glad I was going to Zenville tonight. I had been constantly moving around since I got here and could use one night of relaxation up in the mountains. It was a little expensive but how often do you get a chance to stay in a contemporary resort in Chiang Mai? It was the perfect way to close the week.
The Tuk Tuk engine grew louder as we drove up the steep winding road to the mountains. I'm not positive, but I don't believe the little cabs are truly meant to drive at this capacity. I turned to see trucks and motorcycles passing our little vehicle on the hills. I was beginning to wonder if the driver didn't realize how far out of the city this hotel really was.
Thirty minutes later we pulled off a gravel road to reach two tall plain stone walls with a guard. I felt a little hillbilly arriving in a Tuk Tuk to this Five Star resort. The guard motioned us through and the valet took my pack as I walked through the opening of the resort. Straight ahead rest a shallow lily pond with stepping stones. Path ways led right or left that wrapped around to the huge outdoor lobby overlooking fields of tall grass and mountains. It was almost confusing because you're in this immaculate lobby but the rest of the hotel is hidden somewhere.
The host greeted me with bow and asked for my passport and reservation. I apologized and told her that it was in my bag that the bellhop had just taken. She called him over on the walkie talkie. Meanwhile, a man walked up beside me and bowed. He extended a silver tray holding a green drink with a bamboo straw and a rolled warm towel. I took a sip of the drink when the bell hop dropped my backpack to my feet. Trying to be as discrete as possible, I unzipped the side and reached around for my passport. Unsuccessful, I unzipped it a little more until I had my whole bag open on the lobby floor moving my underwear aside trying to find this damn passport. Yes folks, I'm from Elyria- no need to panic. Wedged between my flight agendas, I found my passport and handed it to the now aggravated clerk. She typed a few things in her computer and then told me the bellhop would drive me to my room. "How far away is it?" I blurted out. She told me the complex was very spread out and there would be a golf cart waiting for me back in the front entrance.
I walked back around the lily pond and a man took my hand to lift me on the cart. As we drove through the complex he gave me a brief overview of each of the areas we passed and the hours of operation for the pool, spa, library and workout facilities. The exterior of the buildings were very simple. From the path they were just grey stone square buildings. Once we took the stairs down we passed a two small infinity pools overlooking the grass fields. I asked if that was the pool and he replied, "One of them, the main pool much nicer. On top floor of restaurant." He pointed past the pool to the wooden path that led to huts and told me that is where I'd dinner is served between 7-10pm.
We walked one more flight down to reach my floor and turned the corner. Marble walls lined the hallway with water pouring from the ceiling to the ground. We walked to my room and the bellhop swung the door open to a beautiful contemporary colorful room. He gave me a tutorial on how to use everything in the room from the coffee and tea station, to the wall in front of the sink that slides revealing a mirror. He pulled aside a curtain and led me into a dressing room to show me where to find the straw pool bag, slippers and robe. He walked back over to the giant Jacuzzi in the middle of the room and demonstrated how to pull the wooden doors from within the walls to close off the bathroom from the bedroom. He walked over to the living room and turned on the T.V, showing me how to pull the flat screen toward the bed or couch. And then pulled the curtains back and led me out to the patio and showed me how to light the lantern.
I stood in shock; this room was almost as big as my entire apartment. The bed looked bigger than a California king; do they even make sizes bigger than that? I asked him if I had been upgraded and he laughed and said "No Miss, this is our most standard room." After he left, I grabbed a Singha beer out of the fridge, threw on my suit and walked upstairs to the "Small infinity pool."
This hotel was such a different type of experience. The design is so simple and modern throughout the walkways and the landscaping is very basic. There were not a lot of colors yet it was almost one of the most beautiful hotels I had ever seen. Maybe that's why they called this a Zen experience because they don't have a ton of stimuli or distractions in their architecture. You just have basic stone buildings, steady water flowing, tall green grass with stepping stones leading you through the lawn to the different buildings. It was very stunning but in a clean, natural atmosphere.
After a little pool time, I returned to my room, made a cup of coffee and sat on my patio to write. From time to time, I would look out at the grass fields up into the mountains and shake my head. This hotel was the perfect getaway. If I was ever lucky enough to write for a living, this is where I would fly to unscramble all my thoughts.
After I posted my blog, I decided to check out the main pool so threw my suit back on, wrapped myself up in a white robe and grabbed another Singha for the road. I walked to through the complex until I reached the building with the rooftop pool.
Stepping off the elevator, I saw why the bellhop laughed when I asked if the small pool in my building was it. This infinity pool stretched across the entire rooftop and had a stunning view of the vibrant green mountains. I jumped in and swam over to the edge.
The trip to the mountains was definitely mandatory if you come all the way to Chiang Mai. Northern Thailand is such a completely different feel then Bangkok and was truly inspiring to see. I put my arms on the edge of the pool and rested my chin on the stone ledge. I couldn't believe that I when I woke up this morning, I had no plan to be here. Now I was sitting in a pool overlooking the most stunning view of Northern Chiang Mai. I thought about what I would have been doing if that girl hadn't planted it in my head about Angelina Jolie's getaway. I wouldn't have even thought to Google places up North, but here I was in the finest hotel in Hangdong.
I took a while soaking in that view, reflecting on my trip and thinking about all of the experiences I had in such a short amount of time. To think this whole trip was planned on such a whim and it had all fell into place perfectly- even finding this gem of a hotel.
After the sunset, I returned to my room and showered before dinner. I threw on a dress and my birthday white heels, hoping no one would remember me as the backpacker digging through her bag on the lobby floor. I had wanted to try the Mango salad since I arrived in Thailand so quickly pointed to that on the menu when the server asked what my selection would be. He told me it was spicy and I asked if they could make it very mild. After a few bites, my eyes were tearing up and I was coughing. The server came back and told me "We make very little spicy for you, still too hot? I grab you bread." I ate the entire basket of bread to break down the spice overpowering my mouth and then headed back to my room.
I made a cup of tea and lit the lantern on my patio. I sat out there and decided this was a place that I absolutely wanted to visit again. I loved every part of this "Zen experience", mango salad and all.
After a good night sleep, I walked up to the restaurant on the top floor for the breakfast buffet. As I piled fruit on my plate, the server from last night asked "No spicy breakfast for you this morning?" I laughed and he cracked a smile as he led me to a table near the pool.
After breakfast I went back to my room and called downtown the front desk. I asked if I could have a late checkout and lay by the pool until I had to leave for the airport at 1:30pm. I relaxed up at the infinity pool for a few hours and then took a detour to my room. On the third level there was a Zen garden with square black stones leading through shallow water to two verandas. With no one insight, I stretched across the couch and admired my last view of the mountains. In one hour I would be leaving this paradise. After showering, I quickly threw my belongings back in my pack, returned my key to the front desk and climbed in the shuttle waiting at the front. Once through security at the airport, I pulled out my iPad and booked a hotel near the airport in Bangkok. I was only staying overnight and flying back to San Diego tomorrow night. I sent Gemma a message on Facebook to see if she would be around tomorrow to hang out with me. She replied back and we agreed to meet for lunch.
Landing in Bangkok, I was becoming accustomed to making my way around. I didn't feel like I was traveling internationally anymore, I felt like I was just taking a short flight up to San Francisco. Maybe it was just because I was at a new comfort level. I picked up my pack at baggage claim and walked over to the shuttle buses. I found my hotel shuttle service and they led me and another man to the bus. I asked if it was his first time to Bangkok and he said he was only staying overnight. He had a flight to Malaysia tomorrow. I told him it was the same for me and that I was flying home to California.
As we pulled out of the airport, he introduced himself as Hector and was originally from Mexico. I asked him why he was going to Malaysia. He paused and smiled as he explained that he was doing something a little crazy. A friend had told him about this ten day Meditation Retreat and it was completely free so he decided to live on the edge. He grew excited as he told me the details of the retreat. He told me that you could not speak to anyone for ten days. I gasped and let out a laugh. "Not one person?" "No, you can't speak, listen to music, and go on the Internet. You can't even eat any food past noon unless it's tea." I laughed again and told him how cool it was that he was doing this trip. I told him it sounded like he was going to monk school. He agreed that it was very similar and he considered shaving his head. We reached the hotel and the after checking in he turned to me and told me he was in Room 405 if I wanted to meet for dinner tonight to call his room.
After dropping my bag at my room, I called Hector and told him I would be down at the hotel bar if he wanted to meet me. The airport hotel was small, outdated with lime green walls but was $20 with airport transportation included.
I walked outside toward the colored lights to find the outdoor bar with a karaoke screen playing. I sat down at a table and ordered a Singha. A few minutes later Hector arrived and I asked, "Are you ready for your last meal?!" He looked puzzled as he took a seat, "Why, are you planning to kill me?" "No, you're going to a Meditation retreat tomorrow silly!" After realizing I wasn't a serial killer, he told me that he was staying with a friend for a few days before the camp. The server came back over and Hector ordered a Singha and a bucket of ice. I raised my eyebrow, "Ice for your beer?" He told me he knew it sounded crazy but he had been spending the last six months in Laos and they use ice cubes in their beers. After the server returned with a bucket, he motioned if he could put ice cubes in my glass. I shook my head in laughter and said okay.
I looked over at a girl drinking at a table by herself and asked Hector if we should invite her to join us. He stood up and walked up to her to ask. She looked over at me and I smiled and waved for us to join us. She popped out of her seat, grabbed her beer and walked over to our table. Her name was Vroni and she was from Germany. Hector asked if she preferred ice in her drink, she looked confused and asked, "In my beer??" I laughed and told Hector it was weird and he said "Hush, you will learn to love."
Hector went on to tell us he has been doing an internship in Laos and once he returns from his Meditation Retreat he would have to present his thesis. I asked him what he plans to do after he is done with the program and he smiled as he drank his iced beer. "I do not believe in planning too far ahead. That takes the fun out of life." He went on to tell Vroni and I that if you have every single step planned in your life you will miss out on the point. The point is to be surprised and live an adventure. He went on to talk about his adventure in Laos and said everyone should travel there once. He told us once he is done with his presentation next month, he may just travel more before starting his career. Vroni said she felt the same, she was returning to Germany tomorrow and then in two weeks flying to Barcelona for a month. Her parents grew frustrated with her because she lived to travel but they wanted her to become more serious.
I thought about if I could become more like them and travel for months at a time. While I admired their sense of adventure, I was okay with going back to work next week. I loved the spontaneity of this trip and all the adventures I experienced, but I also appreciate a home base and a routine. I like to work really hard and then take a trip to unwind. It was very inspiring to be in their presence though and hear how they spend their time. Everyone spends their time differently and there is no wrong way. Where I only need a two week break, others take a four month tour. It all depends on how you structure your life and how you want to spend your time. We sat around and talked about food, tours and more travel over ice cubed beer. Around nine, I told them I was heading up to get a Thai massage because I was still sore from the elephant ride. Hector made fun of me and how unnatural that would sound once I got back to the real world. He teased that I would be at work and someone would ask "Julie, can you help with this project? No, I am not able because I rode an elephant last week..."
I told them both it was very good to meet them and went to receive my last Thai massage. I laid down at the massage parlor and relaxed one last time before heading up to my final night in Bangkok. Tomorrow I would take a seventeen hour flight back to Los Angeles and then drive two hours home to sleep in my own bed in San Diego.
- comments
When I step on the scene, they be like "Dayyyuuumm Wait, so you're not a serial killer??? I was hoping for some slashing & stories of where u his the bodies in the Zen gardens, or the green mountains?? And seriously, who goes 10 days without talking?? It probably would do us Americans a lot of good actually. Hector is trippin! 10 dang days my @$$!! Lemme know how that ."I'm still sore from riding an elephant" excuse works for u at work. Especially, of you try it on someone who had no clue you were leaving the country. € "Hey, Julie, gimme A hand with this would ya?." "Naw bruh, that's all you. My @$$ is killing me from riding (driving) that elephant in Thailand last week. Ask Roger to help you." €€ "Julie, you ready to go to lunch?" "Hey, not today, my lower back is still right from riding that elephant all day, a couple days ago." Loved following your journey. The ice cubes floating in my beer mug are melting. I'm headed for a refill. Great Blog. Love ya
Anonymous & Mysteriously Immature Crestwood Kid Hang Dong, Thailand?? Hang Dong!?!?!?! The 16 year-old in me is laughing his/her butt off. It sounds like directions of what to do in some strange sex shop!!!